CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 220, 16 September 1880, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

"ARE YOU AN ENGINEER ? " To the Editor of the " Evening Mail." Sir— Would you kindly give the writer and the public the benefit of your opinionas to what capabilities or amount of practice (successful or otherwise) are necessary to warrant an individual terming himself, or being called by others, an engineer, say of general public works ? Ido not, of course, refer to steam or smith engineers or Civil Engineers from abroad ; I ask for information chiefly as to those who, perhaps, hate never practiced out of New Zealand. I am, &c, Inquirer. [The question is one we do not feel competent to answer;— Ed. N.E M.]

To the Editor oi? the "Evening Mail/ Sir, — Allow me to suggest to the City Council, who hare lately shown such busi-ness-like common sense in dealing with the gas supply, that they should either reduce the rent of meters considerably or allow the rent to go towards purchasing them. The present charge is enormous considering the value of J the article. Perhaps another and better plan would be to allow any consumer who , has paid reut for a period of two years co n- 1 secutively to be free from further rent, but the meter to remain the property of the Corporation.— Yours, &c, Consumer. i _ . —

To tiie Editor of the rt Evening Mail." Sir, — I am glud to see the movement for separaiing the Waimea Road Board gaining | ground, for I belie vo some wiser plan of effecting retrenchment than dispensing with the only skilled officer the Board has is much needed. I understand movements are on j foot in other sub districts as well as Stoke, and supposing they succeed, I cannot see that the duties of these Boards would be any more important than those fulfilled by school Committees, now that County Councils, to so great an extent, supersede the more . important functions form erly discharged by Road Boards. Should the proposed ohange come to pass no paid officer would be needed except a working overseer for each subdistrict, which would result in a sixpenny rate being sufficient, in place of the shilling ! rate now exacted; as close upon £500 out of the rates is now absorbed in paying a Secretary, Overseer, and members allowance. At any rate as the niovetrient is gaining, ground and extending not only in the Waimea, but in other counties also, I think you might deem ifc worthy of ventilation, and would suggest in conclusion that the Waimea Road Board should pause befor6 making any permanent appointment until it is seen how the matter j is likely to terminate. I am, &c, | Waimea Settler, i ■ i igsfsssmssss hhi sassavusssv ■ - !